On Friday, Oct. 12, a new crop of prospective students attended Fall Visitors’ Day. The event started with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and closed with a sampling of the College’s a cappella groups at 3 p.m. Prospective students had an opportunity to hear various faculty and administrators speak about different aspects of Whitman, eat in the dining halls and attend classes.

“The school feels like a good blend of comfort and academia,” said Tashia Shupert, a high school senior from Montana. “Students were really friendly and the campus made me feel relaxed; it wasn’t intimidating.”

“The best part about the day was attending classes,” said Thomas Levin, a high school senior from Pasadena, Calif., who was impressed with the professors of both the general studies and physics classes he attended, as well as the majority of the discussions.

The classes were a highlight for many students. “The core class was cool,” said Marty Pellicano, a senior from the Portland area. “It was definitely unique to what I expected, sitting around a table talking. Everyone was really involved, like they wanted to be there.”

Students were attracted to Whitman for a variety of reasons. “I heard about it first through my dad’s friend who was an alumni,” said Logan Amsteader, a high school senior from Spokane, Wash. “I liked how small and close to home it was, and I just kept hearing more positive feedback about it.”

Shupert added Whitman as one of her top college choices after research. “It’s nice to see the campus for real and see how beautiful it is. Being here really affirms what I already thought,” Shupert said.

Erin Kanzig also found the campus striking. “There are no leaves like this in Sisters, Ore., where I’m from,” said Kanzig in reference to the changing colors of the various trees around campus. “I came here in summer, but it’s nice to come back when everyone’s here. I saw some people playing quidditch, that was really cool,” added the high school senior.

Ryanne Conrads, also from Sisters, Ore., particularly enjoyed lunch and the opening remarks from President Bridges. “It was important to listen to what the president had to say and then see it realized across campus,” said Conrads.

Amsteader summed up Visitors’ Day saying, “Overall, it was a good visitors day, informative, I got to attend classes and see what people do here. It was pretty awesome.”